Osteospermum plant named &#39;Osantis&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new Osteopermum plant particularly distinguished by its very compact round plant habit, early flowering with white colored ray floret and blue colored disc floret.

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

[0001] ‘Osantis’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

[0002] The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Osteopermum plant, botantially known as Osteopermum ecklonis. The new Osteopermum is propagated by cuttings resulting from a cross of a proprietary Osteospermum ecklonis seedling selection as the male, or pollen, parent identified as code number ‘C272’ with a proprietary Osteospermum ecklonis selection identified as code number ‘C298’ as the female, or seed, parent.

[0003] The new Osteopermum was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross grown in Enkhuizen, Netherlands, in 1998. Neither ‘C272’ nor ‘C298’ has been patented. The new Osteopermum plant has been repeatably asexually reproduced by cuttings in Enkhuizen, Netherlands over a period of 3 years. It has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive propagations, and this novelty appears to be firmly fixed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0004] This new Osteopermum plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographic drawing which shows blooms, buds and foliage of the plant in full color, the color shown being as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

[0005] The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of this new Osteopermum plant. The data which defines these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Enkhuizen, Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 15 weeks old plants. Color references are primarily to the RHS Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London.

Comparison Between the New Cultivar ‘Osantis’ and a Similar Cultivar

[0006] ‘Osantis’ ‘Bright side’ Plant height 25 cm 30 cm Plant width 15 cm 20 cm Earliness One week later flowering

The Plant

[0007] Classification - Botanical Osteopermum ecklonis

Parentage

[0008] Female parent A seedling named ‘C298’ is one of our seedlings from our C-generation of plants bred in 1998. Male parent A seedling named ‘C272’ is one of our seedlings from our C-generation of plants bred in 1998.

Plant Description

[0009] Growth habit Round, compact Plant height 25 cm Speading area of plant 15 cm Strength Moderate growth Branching character Freely branching, 22 lateral branches without pinching Blooming period From May until October

The Stem

[0010] Length 12 cm Diameter  3 mm Internode length  8 mm Texture Glabrous Color RHS 137C

The Foliage

[0011] Shape Single leaves, alternate and elliptic, apex: broadly acute base: attenuate, margin: irregular serration Number of 13 leaves per lateral branch Texture Glabrous, leathery Leaf Color RHS 137B Length Young 30 mm, mature 70 mm Width Young 10 mm, mature 40 mm

The Flower

[0012] Number of flowers per mature plant 100 Flower bud Form Ovoid Length 22 mm Width  8 mm Color RHS 94C Flower Diameter 55 mm Disc diameter  7 mm Disc florets Shape Tubular, elongated Apex Five pointed Length  7 mm Width  1 mm Number of disc florets  35 per inflorescence Color RHS 99B Ray florets Length 24 mm Width  7 mm Color upper surface RHS N155A lower surface RHS 94C at base RHS 77A Number of ray florets  20 Shape Apex Rounded Base Acute Margin Entire Texture Satiny Peduncles Length  7 cm Texture Sturdy, tiny hairs Color RHS 137C Sepals Texture Rough, tiny hairs Number of sepals  20 Color RHS 137C Length  7 mm

Reproductive Organs

[0013] Androecium Appearance Present on disc florets only Shape Oblong, five stamen fused to one Length 2 mm Width 1 mm Pollen color RHS 25A Total no. of anthers 35 Gynoecium Appearance Present on both ray and disc florets Pistil number One pistil per ray or disc floret Pistil length 3 mm Stigma color RHS 83A Stigma shape Bipartite

Seed Development

[0014] Seed development has been observed on plants of the new Osteopermum.

Disease Resistance

[0015] Under commercial conditions, plants of the new Osteopermum are resistant to fungal pathogens common to Osteopermum. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Osteopermum plant, substantially as illustrated and described herein. 